Madonna mother-in-law blasts Tories

Madonna's mother-in-law today takes the Conservatives to task for having just one woman on their 17-strong ruling board.

Shireen Ritchie told the Evening Standard it was absurd a party which leans heavily on women activists failed to include more at the top of its organisation.

Mrs Ritchie, a councillor and former chairman of Kensington and Chelsea Conservatives, made an impassioned plea for party chiefs to embrace the agenda launched by new leader David Cameron this week to promote-more women MPs. "We need to get more women as Conservative MPs - but also to make sure women are more visible at all levels of the voluntary party as well," she said.

There is only one female full voting member on the party's board, the body in charge of the Tory rulebook, funds and management: Margaret Eaton OBE. Secretary Louise Hall has no voting rights. "I think it's really a pity," said Mrs Ritchie, 59, mother of film director Guy Ritchie and a leading member of Women2Win, the group set up this year to encourage female Tory talent and promote measures to boost the number of women MPs.

"We need to show the people we aim to represent that we reflect the world as it is today," she said.

"Women are in positions of influence and power in all walks of life, including the highest levels of business. We should not look any different." She believes high-flyers need to be " headhunted" by the party.

Would her daughter-in-law be a suitable role model? "Madonna is independent, intelligent and very focused," she said.

But she added: "We never discuss politics." The singer is reputed to be a firm admirer of Tony Blair.

Mrs Ritchie is disappointed by the Tories' tally of 17 women MPs but opposes all-women shortlists.

"I would not like to lose the independence of our associations," she said.